271 •(JAPANESE MILITARY--KATANA EXHIBITION)
A detailed presentation album with 51 photographs documenting an exhibition and apparent conference highlighting the history, production, and skill surrounding the iconic Japanese sword, including appearances from Hideki Tojo, the Prime Minister who ordered the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Comprised of images showing demonstrations of masterful blade forging, polishing and sword testing; display cases exhibiting historic and prize-winning sabers, with some 600 years old, measuring over five feet in length; and a variety of important spokespeople performing presentations to a packed crowd, including Col Minoda and Professor Honami, famous inspectors of swords, Professor Fukushima, Major General Takatomi, Engineer Yamamoto, General Kimura, and General Hasegawa, among many others. Silver prints, the images measuring 4¼x6 inches (11.4x15.2 cm.), mounted recto/verso to brown pages, some with a caption, in pencil. Oblong 4to, brown leatherette with a debossed title, in Japanese; tied binding. 1940s

[1,200/1,800]